After a few years of research and development, we are really excited to introduce you to our new line of Hemp Oils featuring non-psychoactive Cannabinoids and Terpenes! First, I would like to share with you some background of how and why these oils came about.

Three years ago, while embedded with a Medical Cannabis Radio Station in Denver for a week, I was exposed to countless heartfelt stories of Cannabis saving people’s lives. Having been dependent on anti-anxiety & antidepressant prescription drugs for 15 years, I felt empowered to give Cannabis a try and haven’t taken any pharmaceutical drugs since. Cannabis was my exit-drug.

The THC-dominant Cannabis varieties have the ability to alter a person’s mindset, which may be beneficial to people on occasion, but being an entrepreneur and a frequent driver, I found it challenging to medicate while maintaining required productivity. I began a quest to find the best non-psychoactive blend which could help people feel well, without risking impairment.

My partners and I studied the EndoCannabinoid System, the system of receptors that exists all throughout the body and regulates many of its important functions. The research helped us understand how this system is activated by organic compounds called Cannabinoids and Terpenes. There are 148 Cannabinoids and ~40,000 Terpenes discovered so far, allowing for virtually unlimited variations.

We founded Lock & Key Remedies, with the goal to set the highest standards in the development of plant-derived “keys” to unlocking our well-being.

We will be sharing educational resources to explain the EndoCannabinoid System, Cannabinoids, Terpenes, and how they all intertwine synergistically.

As the Director of Education and Marketing, I am always glad to share the knowledge of how this all works and am available to meet with you in person. Email me a “Hello” with a date and time for us to get together. If you are unavailable to meet, let me know your shipping address and we will gladly mail you a free sample. The results will speak for themselves.

Nice Steams LLC, a Connecticut-based design and manufacturing company debuts its flagship product the Z1 vaporizer in partnership with the international retail chain, Beyond Vape. The announcement was made at Beyond Vape’s Barclays location in Brooklyn, which is the first store in their organization to carry this noteworthy product as it went on sale this morning. The Z1s will be featured in four additional Beyond Vape locations in New York and Beyond Vape Somerville in Massachusetts later today.

The Z1 is a portable vaporizer for use with plant extracts offering an optimal heating system that accentuates the flavors. Designed in Brooklyn, manufactured in Connecticut and made from US-sourced stainless steel, it offers many features that differentiate it from all other vaporizers in the market including:

“When we started Beyond Vape, we recognized a profound need in the industry for a comfortable place to locate the best collection of cutting-edge products and the corresponding expertise required to make sound decisions. We are thrilled to be working with Nice Steams on our new Z1 Vaporizer and to launch it at our New York and Massachusetts locations,” said David Cairy, Marketing Coordinator of Beyond Vape.

“We are very excited to dedicate our flagship product to our friends at Beyond Vape,” said Darin Zoffoli, the creator & manufacturer of the Z1 at Nice Steams. “It’s a special alignment of visions; combining a quality-focused product, the Z1, with a personalized customer experience that Beyond Vape is renowned for” said Oleg MaryAces of Magic Within Us, who started the project with Mr. Zoffoli and has been providing key connections, logistical support and feedback in the process of bringing this vaporizer to life.

An edit of our Kickstarter video made by Now This has over 8,200,000 views, over 26,000 Likes and 2,700 comments. Most impressively, over 128,000 people and organizations have shared this video, exemplifying a true sign of interest and dedication.

GreenBuilt, LLC intends to build Tiny+ and other visions of the Hemp home. We highly recommend signing up to one of their interactive Hemp building workshops this summer.

We have put this campaign together for GreenBuilt with zero budget, zero compensation, and limited control. It has been a grand challenge of our team’s endurance, and we are happy to have prevailed. We are proud to have enlightened the world on one special use of Hemp. Stay tuned and you will see how this plant will improve our health, bring prosperity to our local economies, and benefit our planet.

It brings us great honor to announce the launch of this world changing campaign.

HempHome: Tiny+ is the next step in the evolution of how we live. Made out of Hempcrete, a mixture of Hemp and Lime, this home has special properties which improve our health and comfort, while having a positive impact on our planet.

This project will shed light on Hemp, one of the fastest growing plants on earth with countless uses. As the senseless Hemp prohibition comes to an end, this simple crop becomes a lucrative option for farmers struggling to make ends meet. Abandoned factories will have new life as processing facilities, creating quality jobs. With more rural opportunities, prosperity will return to Main Streets across the country, improving lives and the overall economy.

I have been involved in the development of NY’s Hemp industry for almost two years; it is not easy to impress me with an event or a panel. Yet, I am still mesmerized by Part One of the Hemp NY City event put together by Mia Feroleto and Susie Cody last Saturday at the historic Cooper Union.

As I walked into The Great Hall, fashionably late, the event was already in progress, but instead of rushing to grab a seat, I was pulled in by a large American Flag that was laid out on a table not far from the entryway. I had to feel it! I knew it was made out of Hemp!

Eric Steenstra, Executive Director of the Hemp Industries Association, was giving a well rounded overview of the industry as it currently stands. I was very impressed by his involvement and relationships with local, state and federal officials spanning our whole nation. We felt a real sense of progress taking place.

Next spoke the pioneering Hemp Farmers, Joel Bedard of Vermont and later, Mike Lewis of Kentucky.

Joel shared stories of his perseverance and of breaking through nonsensical laws, to become the largest Hemp Farmer in the North East. Leading by example, he has been able to significantly influence Hemp reform in Vermont. His genuineness and sense of humor made the inspirational presentation a real treat.

Mike Lewis started off by quoting from a speech that Abraham Lincoln gave on the very same stage of The Great Hall. Mike, an honored veteran, is an experienced farmer who with his organization Growing Warriors trains, assists and equips veteran families with skills, tools, and supplies needed to grow high quality organic produce. His warm-hearted approach did not simplify his path of Hemp cultivation, as various agencies did their best to intimidate him from growing a crop which our Founding Fathers grew. It was his Hemp that The American Flag at the entry of The Great Hall was made of. Mike and his Hemp-Compatriots used the same method as Betsy Ross did when making the First American Flag, which was also made out of Hemp. It was no surprise that this flag had such authentic energy; a flag that was Grown and Made in the USA, as the Founding Fathers intended.

Jamie Petty, the founder of Indiana’s Hemp Industries Association, gave a fact-filled presentation that went over countless applications of this fast-growing plant and featured hundreds of products that improve our health and our planet. She covered everything from essential nutrition, clothing, skin care, and even BMW door panels.

Finally, Tim Callahan gave his best-ever presentation during which he enlightened the audience about Hempcrete; a mold-resistant building material with high insulation properties that diminish the need for toxic materials currently used. Tim featured a very impressive montage of all the Hemp-based structures that he and his firm, Alembic Studio, have helped developed in the USA and abroad. We are truly honored to be collaborating with Tim to build HempHome: Tiny+, a project by GreenBuilt LLC which we will unveil soon.

A great bonus was having Rick Trojan and The Hemp Road Trip Bus parked outside, in Cooper Square. Rick’s farm grows nearly 300 acres of Hemp in Colorado, making him the largest Hemp-Farm in the United States. He spends most of his time on the road with his dedicated Hemp-Compatriots, crossing the country, visiting presidential campaigns and raising Hemp-Awareness everywhere along the way. There are a lot of cool Hemp products to check out on that bus!

I highly recommend watching the recordings of this event. Let me know if interested and I will gladly link you once they are posted up on YouTube. For now, you can check out the pictures from the event by Todd Hinden and a few shots I took.

The audience was very enthusiastic and asked pertinent questions, yet the attendance at the event was too light, given the significance of this special plant. Thus, it is all of our responsibility to share this plant’s history and knowledge with everyone. It’s hard to imagine that the second panel, this upcoming Saturday, will be able to supersede the first, but I know minds will be blown. If you are in the City and available, come to Cooper Union. You will understand how Hemp will help our health, our economy and our planet.

I’ve lived in South BK for 21 years, and know how jaded we are down here when it comes to Nightlife/Lounge Restaurants. Every year dozens of Clubs/Lounges open, close, re-open under different name and re-close. There have been some with decent food that was way overpriced.. nothing ever stood out.
On Saturday evening, I was fortunate to be invited to La Strega Restaurant & Lounge, Drinks and Dance with friends.
The Chef Nick Mascia’s menu was clearly a stand-out. Well thought through, unique combinations of high quality organic ingredients and grass-fed meats. A creative fusion inspired by Italian and Mediterranean recipes. His secret ingredient is Love. You will want to try everything on the menu.
Chef Nick’s brother and partner Phil Mascia, is the General Manager of La Strega. He makes sure that every patron is as happy as could be. As a talented mixologist, he has created a unique cocktail menu for everyone to enjoy. The hostess, the waitresses, the bartenders, the busboys, are all there to take care of you in every way they can.
The sound system is impressive and there is enough of a dancefloor to call it a nightclub.
I will be frequenting this place often. Looking forward to countless meals, drinks, and dances with friends. Cheers to La Strega and to those who make it as great as it is.

“The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

Thomas Paine, one of our Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence, 239 years ago.
It is easy to be cynical and brush off USA as a broken system that is mismanaged by the government and manipulated by corporations. That is indeed true. Yet, it is a fertile ground for optimism.
Winning it’s independence from England was just the start of a long journey towards true Freedom and Independence. It took 87 years to free the slaves and another 102 year to end segregation; 143 years for women to have the right to vote; 148 years for America’s indigenous people to be granted citizenship; 239 years for same-sex marriage equality; and it will take still take a few more years to legalize cannabis and hemp.
The process of true change is slow. There are countless injustices still left to resolve. Yet, we are progressing! Now it is easier for us than ever before, to impact positive change by taking actions to improve our nation and our planet. Despite it’s cumbersome restrictions and limitations, we do have the ability to follow our passions, create our own lives and positively impact the lives of others. Our Founding Fathers will be proud to see that “Independence” is taking place on the most individual level, as thanks to advancements in technologies people will have options to go off the grid with sustainable systems and not rely on the government or corporations to maintain a happy, fulfilling life. For such opportunity, I am forever thankful to this nation and all the people who advanced our freedoms. We vow to continue the progress towards Utopian Freedom and Independence.

I walked into a meetup hosted by MJBA, a NY based Cannabis business association, right as a man was giving a passionate speech about bringing manufacturing back home to the United States.

The man, Darin Zoffoli, entered the cannabis industry with a purpose of helping his mom battle cancer. He was determined to make a device that would vaporize her Cannabinoid-based medicine. I happened to be standing right next to his mom as he spoke. She was exuberantly proud of her son and his vision.

Bringing that vision to life has been a challenging journey that often felt treacherous.
Given that Darin does not have a college degree, is not a trained engineer, designer, or machinist it was easy for established manufacturers to simply dismiss his vision and his designs as “impossible”. Manufacturing products from scratch; without funding and without experience is a rare story, indeed. Finding reliable, accountable people to help overcome “the impossible” lead to many frustrating dead-ends. Setback after setback brought extensive hardship to Darin and his family for the year that followed.

Unwavering dedication and persistence kept Darin working day and night on figuring out the software, refining and simplifying his designs, learning how to program and operate the machines, and then finally.. making parts. He amassed experience by doing it all himself.

Now, after the grueling year, his first masterpiece is complete. The most reliable portable vaporizer in the world. This elegant, mechanical device has no chips or wires and is built from 16 parts that can all be taken apart without the use of tools. It was created to last forever and you have the guarantee that it will.

Yet, this vaporizer is simply a launch of his vision to manufacture high quality, reliable products locally, creating thousands of well-paying jobs. Combining advanced machines, high grade materials, and simple design, new levels of quality standards will be set.

I envision this limitless man to someday join the list of The Men Who Built America. So far, the men on that list brought greatness to the United States through exploitation, fueled by greed. Darin’s goal is simply to bring the people an affordable abundance of the best products in conjunction with social responsibility and environmental sustainability.

Darin understands that greed is unnecessary, as by doing business the right way there will be no shortage of the financial byproduct, profit. The sustainable manufacturing policy is not to let any byproducts go to waste, same applies to profit, which will be invested into creation of new opportunities for people and their local communities.

So what are Darin’s super powers?

Combining his determination with a highly tuned intuition and use of vivid visualization makes him unstoppable.

The key element of intuition is confidence in one self. By eliminating the fear of failure, Darin frees his mind from thoughts that are unnecessary distractions. He knows that in the worst case, if something fails, he will have to make an adjustment. Intuition is a muscle that you can train and fine-tune.

A lot of his success comes from within a visualization of the end result. By thinking of the product as already completed, he is then able to focus on developing the most efficient path to making it into a reality.

There will be a lot more to share about our world’s “Tony Stark”. My favorite part is, Darin does not know comics and does not know about Tony Stark.. he is simply Darin.

Darin’s journey will be a magnificent one, use it as an inspiration for yours.

I came into the ceremony with intention of putting away the noise and regaining clarity.

It was a much needed meditation.

There were 15 of us in a comfortable studio space in Lower East Side of Manhattan. The shaman, facing us as a beautiful multi-panel window was symmetrically behind his back. The lights went off and his ceremony began.

He performed traditional songs, called icaros, whistling, making unique sounds and gestures as each of us came to visit his post. We were presented with his special brew. It had a woodsy taste that I actually enjoyed.

Back on my mat, I relaxed and enjoyed the sounds. I laughed to myself “that’s my jam” as I realized that it only took moments for me to fall in love with each song he performed.

As some time passed, you could hear people begin to feel the brew. Sounds of nauseousness and angst began around the room. Serious internal struggles were taking place. It was clear that these people had a lot they needed to let go.. and they did.

The man on a mat next to mine became possessed by the demons within, as a 4 year long torment was coming to surface. This was his first ceremony and he was in for a special purge. Throwing up profusely he proceeded to lose control of his body. The shaman came to help with what resembled an exorcism.

The brew kicked in for me as well. A feeling of discomfort was present for a bit of time as my mind and body felt perplexed. I am fortunate not to have any traumatic experiences in my life that would require a purge, so I turned my focus on understanding the big picture, clarifying my present and visualizing my future. The path showed up so clearly that I had a challenging time containing my excitement. My body was grooving non-stop as I enjoyed every moment of the shaman’s night-long performance.

My key moment of enlightenment was realizing what was truly impacting me. It was not the brew, but rather two things; love and music. I had to break it down.

Love is the most powerful energy. The strongest bond. Yet, I often felt that loving everyone came at the expense of self. To correct that, love for others must be in good balance with love for self. Keeping the Ratio of Love equal to ONE, allows unlimited love.

The resonating rhythm of the songs and the frequencies in sound. I surrounded myself with talented musicians, even took part in events with names that spell out a clear message … I Feel the Ebb and Flow, a Resonating Momentum that I am Addicted to. Yet until that moment, I did not see it clearly. Music is the universal communication that binds us all. Danny Teneglia was right all along — Music is the answer.

I look forward to further exploring these concepts as the journey progresses.

For now, I danced all night on my mat with a big smile on my face. A great start.